Voice and Matter

About

Voice and Matter is the fourth annual Communication for Development conference arranged by Ørecomm, this year merged with Roskilde University’s biannual scientific conference, Sunrise.

The 4 day conference is free and open to anyone with an interest in Communication for Development. Academics, practitioners, artists, filmmakers, activists and entrepreneurs – we invite actors across the whole field to take part. We believe that the practical side to the Communication for Development field is as important as the theoretical studies, and we want this to show among our participants.

We hope that you will enjoy the opportunity to network with international communication and development experts, to be challenged and inspired, as much as we do.

Programme

The programme will offer a mix of keynotes, paper presentations, workshops, panel discussions, film screenings and exhibitions dealing with communication for development and this year’s theme: Voice and Matter

Panels and workshops will discuss issues such as:

• The role of media and communication in the post 2015 agenda
• Media, empowerment and civic agency
• Participatory video and interactive documentary
• Cultural Studies and ComDev: Remembering Stuart Hall
• Voice and the Return of the Politics of Hope
• Political Economy of the Development Industry

More information

A website with practical information and programme is underway. In the meantime, we hope that our Concept Note will catch your interest.

When? 17–20 September 2014
Where? Roskilde University (17-18 Sep) and Malmö University (19-20 Sep)

Concept Note

When Nick Couldry published his book ’Why Voice Matters – culture and politics after neoliberalism’ in 2010, he delivered a strong critique of neoliberalism and it’s lack of ability to provide the means for people to voice their opinions. He also criticized the media for reinforcing neoliberal values. However, possibly the most important point he raised was that gaining voice is not enough – not enough for society to change, not enough for the material conditions we live under to improve, and for other visions of society to thrive.

While voice, and the polyphony of concepts related to it – such as participation, agency, narrative and civic engagement – is crucial in any vision of democracy and a just society, it is of vital importance for those whose life depends on the material dimension of development. For them, gaining and exercising voice relates directly to critical matters like life conditions, health services, employment, education and environment.

In Academia there is debate about a “material turn” in the humanities as well as in the social sciences, that is, a renewed interest in the relation between the material and power. The Internet of Things is an emerging research area where the notion of infrastructure attains a new meaning that challenges the still prevailing dichotomy between spirit and matter.

Voice and Matter aims to explore the dynamic relationship – and possible convergence – between voice and matter in the context of communication for development theory and practice.

Welcome!